Anchor line retainers



July 24, 1962 c. T. DORSEITT ANCHOR LINE RETAINERS Filed Aug. 51. 1959.TL l

INVENTOR. CLARENCE 7 0025577! ATTORNEY United States 3,045,634 ANCHORLINE RETAJNERS Clarence T. Dorsett, 1029 Holly Ave, Arcadia, Calif.Filed Aug. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 837,204 Claims. (Cl. 114-210) Thisinvention pertains to new and improved anchor line retainers.

An anchor line is normally attached to either a deck of a boat, or aportion of a boat adjacent to the deck so as to extend therefromdirectly away from the boat when an anchor is being used. When anchorlines extend from boats in this manner they present a hazard to otherboats. This is important; it also is important that anchor hnesextending in this manner are apt to be cut by propellers or other partsof boats passing through an anchorage. When this happens a boatoriginally secured by such an anchor line is cast adrift. A number ofconsequences to a boat may, of course, follow from such an eventuality.Also a comparatively expensive anchor is usually lost when such ananchor line is severed.

An object of the present invention is to provide new and improved anchorline retainers. A more specific object of this is providing anchor lineretainers which are primarily intended to be used with relatively smallboats, and which are designed so as to hold an anchor line with respectto such a boat so as to extend from the lower portion of the hull ofsuch a boat when in use. It will be realized that an anchor lineextending in this position is sufiiciently low so that it does notpresent a significant hazard to other boats and so that the chances ofits being severed in the water are substantially reduced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide anchor lineretainers as herein described which are adapted to be actuated from theinterior or forepeak of a boat. A further object of the presentinvention is to provide anchor line retainers of this type which arecomparatively simple to construct, which are very eflective inoperation, and which may be easily and conveniently installed with aminimum of difiiculty. A related object of this invention is to provideanchor line retainers as herein described which may be easily andconveniently used.

Other objects and'advantages of this invention will be fully apparent tothose skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from adetailed consideration of the remainder of this specification, theappended claims and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a part of a boat hull equippedwith an anchor line retainer of this invention, this view' beingpartially in section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the boat hull and theanchor line retainer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the use of this anchor lineretainer;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a modified anchor line retainer ofthis invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view taken in the direction of line '5--5in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a further modified anchor lineretainer of this invention.

The'accompanying drawing is primarily intended so as to clearlyillustrate several presently preferred embodiments or forms of thisinvention. It will be realized from a consideration of'this drawing andof this specification that the basic features or principles of anchorline retainers as described in this specification can be embodied in anumber of dilferently appearing structures through the use of orexercise of routine engineering skill.

As an aid to understanding this invention it can be 3,645,634 PatentedJuly 24, 1962 stated in essentially summary form that it concerns anchorline retainers which are used in combination with a boat hull. Each ofthese retainers includes a hook means adapted to be mounted upon such aboat hull, such hook means being capable of being actuated from theinterior or forepeak of the boat hull so as to either hold or release ananchor rope when an anchor is in use. The anchor line retainer devicesof this invention also include actuating means attached to each of thesehook means so as to be used in controlling the operation of the hookmeans employed.

This invention is best more fully described by referring directly to theaccompanying drawing. In FIG. 1 there is shown an anchor line retainer10 of the present invention mounted upon a boat hull 12 adjacent to thewater line 14 of this hull. The hull 12 includes topsides covered bymeans of a conventional deck 16. In securing the retainer 10 in positiona circular hole 18 is formed in the hull 12 in the general vicinity ofthe water line 14. Preferably this hole 18 includes an internal shoulder20 which faces the exterior of the hull 12.

The retainer 10 includes a collar 22 upon the exterior of which there isformed a flange 24. This collar 22 is located within the hole 18 so thatthe flange 24 is positioned adjacent to the shoulder 20. Preferably theflange 24 is separated from the shoulder 20 by means of a small sealingring 26 in the nature of a common gasket or the like. The collar 22 maybe held in place by means of a plurality of small bolts 28 or otherequivalent means securing the flange 24 directly to the hull 12.

The interior of the collar 22 is provided With a series of serrations 30which are bonded to the peripheral edge of a flexible disc 32 formed ofrubber, polychloroprene or other equivalent material. This disc 32 isprovided with a center opening 34 which is bonded to similar serrations36 on the shank 38 of an elongated hook 40. This hook 40 carries acurved end 42 located on the exterior of the hull 12. The end 42 islocated immediately adjacent to a rigid retainer 44 extending from theexterior of the hull 12 of the boat. Preferably this retainer 44 isformed integrally with the collar 22, but if desired, it may include aseparate base plate (not shown) secured by screws or the equivalent (notshown) to the exterior of the hull 12.

The end of the shank 38 generally within the hull 12 is pivotallysecured by means of a pin 46 to an elongated rod 48. This rod 48 extendsthrough the hull 12 of the boat and through an opening 50 in the deck 16and ter- (rininlgtes in a small knob-like handle 52 located on the Theuse of the retainer 10 is comparatively simple. When it is used ananchor rope (not shown) is attached to the deck 16 or the hull 12 asdesired in the conventional manner so as to extend from this hull.Either before or after an anchor (not shown) secured to this anchor lineis dropped from the hull 12 in a conventional manner the anchor line maybe engaged by means of a boat hook or the like (not shown) so as to beforced Within the general vicinity of the curved end 42. At this pointthe handle 52 may be moved so as to cause deformation of the disc 32 sothat the end 42 moves away from the retainer 44. Through appropriatemanipulation of such a boat hook the anchor rope may be then insertedwithin this end 42. After this is accomplished the handle 52 may bereleased, and the inherent resiliency of the disc 32 to return to itsinitial configuration or position will allow the end 42 to come backadjacent to the retainer 44.

At this point such an anchor line (not shown) is held in position so asto extend from the hull 12 in the desired manner in order to preventsuch a line from being a hazard, or being severed under the normalcircumstances. When it is desired to retrieve an anchor, the

sequence of operations indicated may be essentially reversed so as tofree the anchor line and allow it to be pulled from the water.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings there is shown a modified retainer 60of the present invention which is mounted within a hole 18' having ashoulder 20' both located in a boat hull 12 substantially as previouslydescribed in conjunction with the retainer 10. This retainer 60 includesa plate 62, the outer periphery of which rests against the shoulder 20'.This plate is secured so as to enclose the hole 18' by means of bolts28' as previously described which draw it against a sealing ring 26',corresponding to the ring 26 previously described.

Within the center part of the plate 62 there is located a cylindricalhole 64, around the periphery of which within the plate 62 there arelocated grooves 66 containing common elastomeric O-ring seals 68. In theretainer 60 a shank 70 of a hook 72 extends through the hole 64 so thata seal is formed by means of the O-rings 68. A curved end 74 of the book72, within this construction, is located on the exterior of the hull12'.

This curved end 74 is held with respect to the plate 62 by means of asmall flange 76 on it bearing against this plate 62. The end of theshank 70 remote from the end 74 is threaded and carries a small washer78 and a nut 80 which retain the hook 72 in place at all times.

The shank 70 includes within the hull 12' a small boss 82 which issecured by means of a screw 84 to a common crank or lever arm 86. Theend of this crank arm 86 remote from the hook 72 is secured by means ofa conventional ball and socket type joint 88 to an end of a rod 48'corresponding to the rod 48 previously described.

The use of the retainer 60 is very simple. When it is desired to hold ananchor line (not shown) with this retainer 60 on an anchor (not shown)attached to such an anchor line is dropped overboard from a boat in aconventional manner. This anchor line is engaged by a boat hook or thelike (not shown) and is brought down toward the hull 12' so as to beheld by the end 74 of the hook 72 when this end is in the position shownin FIG. 4. When it is desired to retrieve an anchor attached to a lineheld in this manner, the rod 48' is actuated so as to rotate the hook 72in order to permit such an anchor line to be withdrawn or lifted fromthe end 74. After this is done the hook 72 may be rotated back to itsinitial position as shown in FIG. 4, or may be left in this finalposition until it is desired to use the retainer 60 again, at which timeit may be rotated back to its initial position.

In FIG. 6 of the drawing there is shown a still further modified anchorline retainer 90 of the present invention which is installed within ahole 18" in a hull 12", both substantially as previously described. Withthe retainer 90 a hook 92 having a curved end 94 is located on theexterior of the hull 12" and is held so that an enlarged shank 96extending from this end 94 goes through the hole 18". The end of theshank 96 generally within the hull 12" is threaded and carries aconventional nut 98 and a washer 104. In order to secure the hook 92 inplace it is preferred to draw up the nut 98 so that a flange 102extending around the shank 96 hits against the exterior of the hull 12",and so that the washer 104 hits against the interior of this hull.Preferably, but not necessarily, small sealing rings 26" are locatedbetween the hull 12" and the flange 102 and between the hull 12" and thewasher 104 so as to aid in the maintenance of a seal.

The shank 96 includes an enlarged opening 106 leading from the end ofthe shank located within the interior of the hull 12". This opening 106is connected to the exterior of the hull 12" by means of a small hole108. A retainer rod 110 is slidably mounted so as to extend through boththe opening 106 and the hole 108. A flange 112 on this retainer rod 110limits the movement of the ,retainer 110 toward the curved end 92 sothat the extremity of this retainer rod 110 is normally spaced a shortdistance from the extremity of the curved end 94. Preferably anenlarged, elongated elastomeric sealing cylinder 114 is located withinthe opening 106 around the retainer rod 110, and is held under pressureby means of a plug 116 threaded within the end of the opening 106located generally within the hull 12".

With the retainer a small arm 118 extends from the washer 104 as shownin the drawing. This arm 118 carries a pin 120 acting as a fulcrum for abell crank lever 122, one of the ends of which is pivotally connected bymeans of a pin 124- to an end of the retainer rod 110, the other of theends of which is pivotally connected by means of another pin 126 to arod 48" substantially as previously described.

The retainer 90 may be used in substantially the same manner as theretainer 10. The essential difference between the retainer 90 and theretainer 10 lies in the fact that in the retainer 10 a rotary type ofmotion of a hook element is used which results from the deflection orbending of a flexible, elastomeric disc 32, while in the retainer 90linear motion is used so as to control the opening at the curved end ofthe hook employed. Such linear motion is caused by the flange 112 movingagainst the sealing cylinder 114 so as to compress this sealing cylinderwhen the rod 48" is pushed. When this rod 48" is released the inherentelasticity of the cylinder 114 acts against the flange 112 so as to movethe retainer rod back to the initial position illustrated.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains willrealize that various anchor line retainers as herein described are veryeffective, eflicient devices for the purpose intended. They will furtherrealize that these anchor line retainers may be constructed with aminimum amount of difliculty at a nominal expense. They will furtherrealize that they may be installed upon the hull of the average boatwithout any trouble, and that when installed, they may be easily andconveniently used for the purposes intended.

Because of the nature of this invention it is to be considered as beinglimited only by the appended claims forming a part of this disclosure.

1 claim:

1. In combination: a boat hull having a top; hook means capable of beingactuated so as to hold and release a rope mounted on said hull belowsaid top, said hook means being located so as to extend through saidhull from the exterior thereof to the interior thereof; and actuatingmeans secured to said hook means within the interior of said hull, saidactuating means being capable of being actuated so as to cause said hookmeans to move from an anchor line holding position in which said hookmeans extends in a vertical plane upwardly away from said hull and thencurves downwardly and terminates pointing generally towards said hull toan anchor line released position.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said hook means includes ashank, a retainer rigidly secured to said hull, a curved end secured tosaid shank, and a flexible elastomeric disc secured to said boat hulland wherein said disc is secured to said shank so as to be normally heldthereby with said curved end located adjacent to said retainer.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said hook means includes: ashank, and wherein said shank is rotatably mounted on said boat hull soas to be capable of rotation about its axis.

4. A boat anchor line retainer which comprises in combination: a boathull having an opening formed therein; a flexible elastomeric discsecured to said hull so as to cover said opening; a hook, said hookincluding a shank carried by the center portion of said disc and acurved end located on the exterior of said hull; a retainer secured tothe exterior of said hull adjacent to the extremity of said culved endof said hook; and actuating means attached to said shank within saidhull, said disc being capable of temporary deformation upon movement ofsaid actuating means so as to cause said curved end to move away fromsaid retainer, said disc being capable of moving said hook so that saidcurved end is located adjacent to said retainer when said actuatingmeans is released.

5. A boat anchor line retainer which comprises in combination: a boathull having a top and a water line; means defining an opening throughsaid hull adjacent to said water line; a collar secured to said hullaround the periphery of said opening; a flexible elastomeric discsecured to said collar so as to cover said opening; a hook, said bookincluding a shank secured to the center of said disc so as to be carriedthereby, saidhook also including a curved end located on the exterior ofsaid hull; an actuating rod pivotally attached to said shank within saidhull so as to extend from said shank; a retainer rigidly secured to theexterior of said hull so as to be located adjacent to the extremity ofsaid curved end of said hook, said curved end of said hook being capableof being moved away irom said retainer by movement of said actuatingrod, causing temporary deformation of said disc, and being capable ofreturning to its initial position adjacent to said retainer upon releaseof said actuating rod as a result of the elastomeric properties of saiddisc.

6. A boat anchor line retainer as defined in claim wherein said retainerand said collar are formed integrally with one another.

7. A boat anchor line retainer which comprises in combination: a boathull having a top and water line; means defining an opening within saidhull adjacent to said water line; plate means secured to said hull so asto cover said opening; a hook including a shank pivotally mounted onsaid plate means and a curved end located on the exterior of said hull,said curved end being attached to said shank, said shank extendingthrough said plate means into the interior of said hull; means forrotating said hook attached to said shank within the interior of saidhull.

8. A boat anchor line retainer which comprises in combination: a boathull having a top and water line; means defining an opening within saidhull adjacent to said water line; plate means secured to said hull so asto cover said opening; a hook including a shank pivotally mounted onsaid plate means and a curved end located on the exterior of said hull,said curved end being attached to said shank, said shank extendingthrough said plate means into the interior of said hull; lever arm meansattached to said shank within the interior of said hull; an actuatingrod means attached to the extremity of said lever arm means remote fromsaid hook, said hook being capable of being rotated by movement of saidactuating rod means.

9. A boat anchor line retainer which comprises in combination: a boathull having a top and a water line; a hook, said hook including a curvedend extending trom said hull on the exterior thereof adjacent to saidwater line; retainer means slidably mounted so as to extend through saidhull, said retainer means normally terminating adjacent to the extremityof said curved end of said hook; and actuating means for moving saidretainer means away from said extremity of said curved end of said hookand toward said extremity of said curved end of said hook, saidactuating means being located on the interior of said hull.

10. A boat anchor line retainer which comprises in combination: a boathull having a top and a Water line; means defining an opening withinsaid hull adjacent to said water line; a hook, said hook including ashank extending through said opening so as to seal said opening and acurved extremity located on the exterior of said hull, said shankincluding an opening leading into the interior of said hull, and a holeleading from said opening in said shank to the exterior of said hull; aretainer rod slidably mounted in said opening in said shank and saidhole so as to extend to adjacent to the extremity of said curved end ofsaid hook and so as to extend into the interior of said hull, said rodincluding a flange extending therefrom within said opening in saidshank; an elastomeric sealing cylinder located within said opening insaid shank around said retainer rod and against said flange; plug meanslocated within said opening in said shank so as to hold said cylinderwithin said opening, said plug means extending around said retainer rod;and actuating means secured to said retainer rod within said boat hull,said actuating means being capable of being actuated so as to cause saidretainer rod to move so that said flange compresses said cylinder,allowing a boat anchor line to be moved with respect to said curved endof said hook, the elasticity of said cylinder being capable of movingsaid retainer rod toward said extremity of said curved end of said hookupon release of said actuating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS112,635 Robinson Mar. 14, 1871 2,730,985 Wingate Jan. 17, 1956 2,860,908Peterson Nov. 18, 1958 FQREIGN PATENTS 613,773 Great Britain Dec. 2,1948

